California in 'Worst Drought in 100 Years': Governor

Gov. Jerry Brown declares a drought state of emergency while speaking in San Francisco, Jan. 17, 2014. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

(Newser)
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Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency for California today, over what the governor called "perhaps the worst drought that California has ever seen" in the roughly 100 years the state has been keeping records. Brown asked all residents to voluntarily cut back their water usage by 20%. "It's important to wake all Californians to the serious matter of the drought," Brown said, according to CNN. "We are in an unprecedented, serious situation." He also promised an initiative to facilitate water transfers in the state.

More than 90% of California is experiencing drought conditions, and the Obama administration has already declared 27 counties "natural disaster areas." Yesterday the National Weather Service predicted that the dry conditions would drag on for at least three more months, the San Jose Mercury News reports. "We're starting to see a lot more impacts," said one meteorologist. "Groundwater issues, low snowpack, less forage available for cattle grazing." Probably the most visible impact is a 1,700-acre wildfire in the foothills of LA that's still only 30% contained. (Read more California stories.)

Breaking News: Source of drought discovered to be massive amounts of hot air emanating from Governor's mouth.

Vasiliki-kefala

Jan 18, 2014 1:52 PM CST

graduated Los Angeles High School 1964, LACC 1966. lived on Pico & Normandie considered border Watts(had National guard on my street) Left after the 1st riot. They deserve Governor Moonbeam.

NorCalHal

Jan 18, 2014 12:51 PM CST

I guess now it's time for the people to pay for the Bureau of Reclamation's months of dumping billions of gallons of freshwater from Lake Shasta down the Sacramento river to keep the farmers and fisheries happy. The lake is currently 131 FEET below the full level. and at 37% of capacity. It seems a few months of reduced flow rates would have gone a LONG ways towards reducing some of today's shortages.